Jeoffrey

Years ago I was (among other things) an avid gamer playing Age of Empires II, and I am currently salivating at the sight of the gameplay trailers for the new Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord (and planning to build a new computer to play it). I also used to play Civilization V and VI. I mean, I really like battles between massive ancient armies, especially if the armies have one thousand or more warriors and different formations and war strategies, etc, are used. I also like to watch how great empires are created and how they unify and conquer territories. In other words, I am just a huge lover of massive epic battles and great empires - I am actually part of the target audience for this particular anime series. Plus, I also like 1v1 battles between charismatic generals, and I also really like shonen anime series... Need I say any more? I do not think so. The first season of Kingdom had me under its spell, the second season was even better, and the third season seems like it is going to blow both of the previous two seasons out of the water... It has a lot of shortcomings, and some of them fade with time (like the animation keeps getting better from season to season). Some people (like Subjektiv) perhaps do not like this kind of rewriting history. Am I interested in that? No! I just want to watch more fantastic epic battles and the protagonist's journey to fulfill their dreams, no matter how idealistic. I found this anime series a real treat. 9/10.

Again (as with the last season of Haikyuu!!) I was very skeptical about this season. If you are making a shonen anime series, or perhaps any sort of super-hero show, then for the sake of building atmosphere I think it is pointless to put the most epic battle between the strongest good guy and the most powerful villain (in this show it is All Might vs. All for One) anywhere other than the very end. It would have been weird if, for example, Superman had defeated Zod halfway through the movie and then had just simply carried on to deal with some minor villains for the rest of it. It would certainly seem weird in a Superman movie or TV show, however, this is not about just one amazing superhero, it is about his successors, so if you had, say, a TV show about Robin (from Batman), then this connection between two generations, where there is an epic scene about one having to leave to make way for the next makes perfect sense (you do not have to look that far for that, because there is a similar storyline Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse). After such a spectacular epic showdown, which brings about the end of an era, there must inevitably be a comedown. After seeing one of the highlights of the anime series, it is going to take a lot of time and be difficult to build up to another such highlight. All of this was on my mind before this new season even started... Then I saw the first few episodes and also a YouTube video with a certain very popular anime critic explaining why, logically, this season is already the worst season ever. He presented some interesting arguments which made a lot of sense, one of which was the one I mentioned above. He also criticized the complete change of environment in the first half of the season which means that a ton of characters (the main male protagonist’s friends in Class 1-A for example) are an afterthought and have yet to do much of anything (i.e. they will be missed by a lot of the show’s aficionados), and there are large amounts of pointless character introductions, so the show basically just feels hastily overstuffed, and they do not work as well as the old friends we have already established a relationship with. He also criticized the whole point of the season’s narrative. Basically, Eri’s character is unrelatable, so the narrative is not going to make sense to a lot of people because it starts and ends with her status as a plot device. She has no backstory, not much of anything really, yet expects you to care and buy into the other characters’ insane sacrifices in saving her, and justifies all the drama and the epic battles just because she is a little girl who is suffering. He had other arguments, which I cannot remember now, although I was really intrigued by them at the time, so I was really watching this season closely to see if his points were valid... Well, I did not find it that way at all. On the contrary! The change of the narrative arc was actually quite refreshing in the end. The new characters were intriguing, and Mirio, who looks like Tintin on steroids was in some of the best scenes of the whole season and I am even convinced he might have been a better "successor" than Midoriya (Deku) in some ways. I was equally taken by the whole Eri narrative, which is no surprise because as a fan of cute little animated girls, any injustice done to them instantly pushes my buttons (along with other internet nerds from our little "Must protecc!" club). Moreover, the fight of Midoriya vs. Overhaul was great and the real highlight of the whole arc and clearly demonstrated that even after the awesome carnage from the last season there was still something to look forward to. So in the end, I am pleased beyond expectations with the entire Shie Hassaikai Arc. I had a great time watching it and ran the gamut of emotions once again. Then came the second part of the season and the U.A. School Festival arc. These parts of the anime series usually bore me to death, so once again I was slightly on edge as to how My Hero Academia would handle it. It was back to school in a friendly, relaxed way, seeing old friends and making new ones. Most importantly, it had Gentle Criminal, probably the most likeable villain (so far), of the entire anime series, who, along with La Brava, was a really good character and I was secretly hoping they would succeed. However, rooting for the bad guy in super-hero TV shows or movies usually means big trouble, it shows that the main male protagonist does not have enough charisma... Perhaps Gentle Criminal was just so awesome and La Brava was too lovable - and liking the Joker and Harley Quinn does not necessarily mean that Batman sucks, right? The showdown between Midoriya and Gentle Criminal was truly spectacular, a duel between characters with such similar yet incredibly strong motivations intrigued me, and the added backstory made me sympathize with Gentle Criminal and his companion (and also root for them) all the more. I could say that the outcome of this battle was rather not really what I wanted, however, on the other hand, Eri's smile made up for it... The finále and the rise of the new number one hero only needed two episodes for the anime’s creators to set the mood, and stage another brilliant battle, and change your perspective on a character you probably might not have even considered just a few months ago... In conclusion, this season of My Hero Academia did not disappoint me either, on the contrary - it easily eliminated any doubts that I might stop enjoying it in the future because the producers know how to create a good atmosphere, what fanboys want (even if it is just a bunch of clichés sometimes), and how to make quality and dynamic battles... I enjoyed it, I enjoyed it a lot. 8.7/10.

I have probably already written this twice before, and I am going to repeat it. It is hard to follow up the previous season, which was the ultimate pinnacle (for now), with the atmosphere, well-established relationships  and hours of training came to full fruition. I did not enjoy the first few episodes of this season very much, and what is more, I was even a bit irritated that the anime’s creators brought up an issue that's been dealt with so many times - Hinata's height. It was as if the grand finále of the qualifier never happened and we were back at the beginning when the main male protagonist needed to address his biggest problem (which he has already dealt with at least once before) and find his place (again). I was not impressed by the individual training camps either, I thought it was nice that they introduced us to some other excellent players even though that did not seem enough to build the same atmosphere as they did with the Shiratorizawa Academy... Gradually, though, it started to interest me again. Hinata's improvement, as he managed to keep his head down and his eyes open, actually started to be quite charming. The atmosphere also gradually builds up around each opponent (at least in the thirteenth episode the tension is used to great effect) and still Haikyuu!! manages to keep the right balance between the sport itself and a shitload of (encouraging) motivational scenes, and these things succeed to keep the audience excited for the big matches and the pretty ordinary stuff that shows us that volleyball is actually played by pretty normal people. At this time, I think that Haikyuu!! is still the best sports anime series, even though this was definitely the weakest season so far. However, I am looking forward to future seasons in the hope that, because it seems obvious, the next part could be as great as it was before... Halfway through season four I am rating it as 8/10, and looking forward to the summer... EDIT 09.01.2020, Part 2 - Well, what a disappointment, there was no suspense, no drive, except at the very end, when I was reminded of what used to be good about Haikyuu!!. In other words, there were ten very boring episodes where I more or less could not have cared less about the action on the court. This was especially true when there was that whole stupid episode with Nekoma which was just shoved in. This irritated me because it ruined the already lackluster pace with another (and for me not very pleasant) cold shower. The atmosphere the anime’s creators managed to build up in the previous series gave me chills watching every second of it, but in the second half of season four they probably only managed to do so in the last few episodes when it regained some feeling and tension and everything worked the way I think it should. However, it was too damn late!! I cannot say anything good this time, because I did not particularly enjoy the episodes up to the finále. This was not very good. I could award the second half of season four 5/10 at most, and on the whole, I am awarding it 6.5/10 which is a damn feeble four stars and a disappointment, and I am dreading the next season in case they repeat the same mistakes…

I am wondering whether I actually want to write anything about this anime series because it was definitely the most boring show I have seen in anime season Winter 2020. If it had not dropped on Tuesday, when my schedule was pretty much clear, I probably would have quit Sorcerous Stabber Orphen after the first few episodes. Most of this generic show is very pedestrian. The animation looks quite old-fashioned, because the manga is not exactly the freshest, most up-to-date series. The soundtrack is simply awful, it suits most of the scenes like kissing a lover passionately in the middle of a cemetery does... I simply cannot answer the question of whether it is so terribly uninteresting because it is a bad adaptation, because I am unfamiliar with the manga series, and I have never watched the earlier 1998-99 adaptation either. What I can say, however, is that this anime series feels very rushed, sometimes it over-explains things, and at other times does not explain enough, the atmosphere of the show is pretty bad and some of the twists are just bizarre... Add to that a not-so-interesting main male protagonist who calls himself Orphen although virtually no one else actually calls him that. Next up, there is a pretty ordinary sidekick and a girl whose purpose is unclear - I have no idea if she is there just for fun, or as an attempt at a romantic interest. Then there is Azalie who is behind everything (probably even the main male protagonist’s morning diarrhea), appearing out of nowhere so suddenly that I almost jumped out of my skin, and she just gets away with everything like it is nothing, plus she is probably not evil, just complicated... It is just rubbish, a mediocre, and bizarre fantasy, which probably would have had some potential if it had not been so stupidly directed... 3.5/10.

Anime is supposedly saved! It is time to remember that I am reviewing a work of art that at one point was said to be the second-best anime series of all time on MAL, although that just goes to show how easily ratings on various databases can be influenced. However, I must say that this anime series definitely left me with something, of course things I did not know before... For example, I can now safely say that if you were smitten by Lady Galadriel in Lord of the Rings, then you are an absolute gerontophile by elven standards, and besides, even her mana is not the freshest anymore. Also, if someone is turned on by Tinker Bell, then they are just out of luck unless they have a dick the size of a Hobbit’s. All in all, I have to say that someone really went to a lot of trouble creating this world and its logic regarding sex. This is not a show about having an awkward lame quickie, where characters just have to “shoot their load”, no here it is thoughtful, scientific, and logical research. It is also to be appreciated that someone came up with something like Interspecies Reviewers and put it on TV, and in a version (the uncensored one) that is in many ways more explicit than the manga series - this takes some balls! So the boundaries of ecchi anime are pushed again, and instead of an unconvincing "I do not know if this is really hentai" we get an absolutely definite "I know this is hentai" from a lot of the audience. However, how I perceive the difference between ecchi and hentai (the same way I differentiate between erotica and pornography), is, because as my father once explained this to me, unless you can see the turkey go into the oven, then it is not pornography (which can also be applied in gastronomy). Pornography to me simply means a graphic depiction of the sexual act with proper detail, although Wikipedia says that the perception of the line between erotica and pornography is largely subjective... So what are Interspecies Reviewers? Aside from a bunch of "fap material" (though by the fact that the scenes are not particularly long, you would have to be faster than FedEx), this show is unexpectedly pretty good and well-thought-out entertainment. I have seen the tagline ecchi (or even hentai) sitcom somewhere and yes I totally get that definition. Now the most important thing! Did I enjoy it? Did it do its job, to make me feel good in my time of need? The answer to the first question, I have to be honest, is "most of the time, yes". The fact that the different races and their sexual proclivities, preferences, and boundaries are so well thought out made it interesting. The fact that the main protagonists are quite endearing and do everything responsibly and also with some insight made it quite entertaining. Thanks to sometimes very bizarre situations, all sorts of inventions, and jokes, it even managed to keep me amused. Sure, there were episodes that were also very peculiar in a not-so-enjoyable way for me, and if anyone here admits that they thought the best episode was the one about the egg-laying show (while not revealing themselves as a reptilian), then we can no longer be friends... Now to the second question. I have already talked about the length of the sex scenes. I also touched lightly on the fact that not every scene is going to be comfortable taking into account people’s individual sexual preferences, and there is the fact that this style of animation does not make me particularly excited. It is just too "round and bouncy" for me and that is not really my cup of tea... So I am sorry to say that I did not find Interspecies Reviewers to be great material for getting my rocks off, and I certainly do not think the show can fully substitute for a quality hentai. That is the reason why in the end I do not really feel like awarding an excellent rating because I thought one of the two most important aspects of Interspecies Reviewers failed. Anyway, it was an experience, and I highly doubt that there is an anime series this year that is more talked about - you are going to either love it or hate it, you might claim it is a real gem, a fresh new direction, or even say it is a dorky animation, the height of tastelessness, or an advertisement for prostitution - however, if you have come this far, you cannot claim to not know anything about it... This is why, as a reviewer, I review these reviewers too. 6/10.

Somali to Mori no Kamisama is a bittersweet tale, it is a record of two very different creatures' travels together in a world that is persecuting them, and with time being relentlessly against them. SonGokussj is right in that the world it is set in is interesting and there are some unique characters, where the concept of different species, cultures, and customs is beautifully varied, it is all very colorful and at times incredibly beautiful. However, I strongly disagree with him that the central duo is somehow weak, or that the whole thing is uninteresting or boring. Also, comparing it to Mushishi or Natsume's Book of Friends did not seem quite right to me. Sure, perhaps there is an attempt to evoke a similar atmosphere, and a partial stand-alone episode vibe although that is kind of all I could come up with in terms of what they have in common... Likewise, I cannot understand what surprises my colleague about the fact that the Golem, who may have been living for 999.9999 years (or whatever the show actually says), and has never left his magical forest, and his only interaction with the other species out there has been, at most, to chase them away from his "garden", is surprised by normal and ordinary things. The fact that my esteemed colleague does not know that African bushmen sometimes live their whole lives in their forest, meeting a European at most once in their lifetime, would also politely stare at things out there in the world they are not able to understand - well, he should watch The Gods Must Be Crazy! Besides, the character is a Golem who was only kept company by his animals in the forest, and the only knowledge he has was what he got from his creator... I really do not see what is so hard to understand about this… However, back to my review. The main two characters were great, I certainly liked them more than the ones in If It's for My Daughter, I'd Even Defeat a Demon Lord. Somali is a beautiful example of a human child, on the one hand, she is inquisitive, naively honest, and adorable, on the other hand, she is stubborn, just will not listen, is naughty - just a pretty normal kid, much less idealized than Latina from the aforementioned If It's for My Daughter, I'd Even Defeat a Demon Lord. Of course, she occasionally imparts some profound wisdom, like "Love is never a lie", although this is something that any genuine and naive childish mind will have no trouble figuring out, so even in those moments I find Somali believable. The Golem is the ideal guardian, acting responsibly, stoically, not overreacting, sometimes too rational - because he is a Golem after all, and he can sometimes be amusing or a bit weird, and in my opinion, he contrasts perfectly with the vivaciousness of the main female protagonist. I also found most of the supporting characters to be quite interesting and likable. The atmosphere of the show is really good too, as I said the narrative is bittersweet, where on the one hand you can enjoy their adventures, explore an interesting and colorful world, and, on the other hand, you are constantly reminded that Somali does not stand much of a chance in this world and that the Golem is quickly running out of time, so even the best scenes are still kind of sad! So, is it quite predictable with no real concern for what happens to the main protagonists? Well, I do not know because the last two episodes had the opposite effect on me, and the whole ending is still as bittersweet as the whole of this anime series, only more intense, so I was really deeply moved at the end. In conclusion, I really enjoyed Somali and the Forest Spirit, and therefore I cannot award less than four stars. Otherwise, it is worth mentioning the great opening song, which definitely impressed me when I first heard it, both with the strong opening melodies and the nice mix of different moods (= how the song’s vibe keeps shifting). 7.7/10.

There are countless anime series out there about cute girls doing cute things who have their own little school club where they are building relationships with each other. Some anime series just drift on the wave of stand-alone episodes and their pleasant atmosphere and light comedy are quite entertaining. However, other anime series are different, they use an entire season to achieve an objective - and in this show, it is to discover an asteroid and name it Ao. So is there something extra that makes Asteroid in Love stand out compared to all the previous ones? Personally, I am impressed by the broad scope of this particular show. Do you like to look at the sky or the stars, do you prefer to just stare at the ground, or do you want to watch the fun and interesting interactions between some cute young girls? Astrology, geology, meteorology, cartography - all of these sectors are represented here, and we even learn a little bit about all of them (actually, quite a bit compared to other anime series with a similar concept), and maybe even get to understand why someone might like these particular fields. That is definitely a positive thing, i.e.,  productions that whet your appetite and arouse your interest to learn more about a subject in which you were maybe not interested before. It makes sense and has a real point to it in my opinion. Moreover, Asteroid in Love does not fall short in other aspects characteristic of this sort of anime series, such as a congenial atmosphere, likable characters, very attractive animation, and a very laid-back soundtrack... Another pleasant surprise was the fact that the anime series covers a much larger period of time in one season than usual. It is often the case that one season corresponds to one semester or one school year, however, in this show, there is more time in which to alternate some of the characters and introduce something new. Asteroid in Love was an enjoyable show, and it was also interesting and a bit educational, and very well presented in a way that makes you wish that all the girls’ dreams came true. 7/10.

The KonoSuba: God's Blessing on this Wonderful World! Legend of Crimson movie maintains the KonoSuba franchise’s high standard of banter and manages to deliver a fairly meaningful and interesting narrative within the running time of an hour and a half. The characters and their relationships develop a lot more here than in the entire second season of the anime series... So I found it enjoyable and entertaining, I had a great time watching it. The colorful magic was nice to look at and the only thing that could have made the movie even more perfect would have been if in the closing credits, after the impressions left by the battle with the demon lord's general, plays, "All You Need Is Love". 9.2/10.

On the one hand, it is nice to see my favorite characters from the Laid-Back Camp anime series again and to recall the pleasant atmosphere of the show I enjoyed and was so fond of at the time. On the other hand, the concept of three-minute episodes for this kind of anime is totally inadequate and completely unsatisfying. In other words, before I got into the right mood, feeling good, the episode was over... Moreover, Heya Camp is not actually even (despite the fact that the word camp reappears in the title) that much about camping and any educational crossover regarding camping as a hobby has disappeared, and so all that is really left is sort of a brief introduction to the region of Japan where the anime is set. I would have preferred maybe two twenty-minute OVAs to these tiny little appetizers! After saying that, however, at least they reminded me of Nadeshiko and co. again, and helped me realize that I am still looking forward to the second season of Laid-Back Camp in January 2021. 6/10.

The next time someone somewhere tells you that modern anime has lost its originality and playfulness because the anime creators themselves have lost their enthusiasm and passion for their art, just watch Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! and you are going to immediately realize that they have got it all wrong. This anime series is literally all about demonstrating a love for Japanese anime and also animation in general! This comes from both the characters themselves, whose energy and enthusiasm for the cause literally oozes out, and also from the animators, who have clearly demonstrated their passion, creativity, playfulness, and attention to detail in every frame (especially in the dream sequences). Also, everything is presented in a very pleasant atmosphere that makes you feel really good about it all. In addition to that, the characters are all really interesting, passionate, and likable (also, as Starletka remarked in her review, visually diverse and therefore easy to remember). This anime series also provides the audience with a lot of interesting information regarding the making of anime, and a lot more could be inferred by the various minor analogies. For example, we can see the struggle between creativity, where the mangaka wants his work to be as good and rich it can be, and management, which needs to meet deadlines and keep the costs down - in other words, it has to keep the creatives at bay to some extent for anything to ever realistically be produced. In this show, we can see the origins, how the worlds are conceptualized, and how important the details, physics, and mechanics of it are. Also if you love fluid movement, different camera shots, and are crazy about movies and TV soundtracks it shows just how much it can enhance the visual experience... Sure, the style of the animation itself may not suit everyone, and I think this anime series is primarily for those who are really interested in Japanese anime and animation in general, however, it will also appeal to those who are bored after having seen tons of stuff and want to watch something really original. However, in all honesty, after saying all that, it can be really relaxing thanks to its gentle and pleasant vibes. Personally speaking, I think that Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! is the TOP anime from the Winter 2020 releases and a veritable advertisement for a love and passion for anime. Easy Breezy... 9/10.